Say it ain't snow

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Pioneer Valley had its first coating of snow a week ago.

With winter still five weeks away, looking at history tells us we still have a long way to go before we can forget about snow.

Last week was a good refresher course in dealing with snow, but we're still four feet away from reaching normal snowfall levels.

While a normal November has around 2.5 inches of snowfall, our normal yearly average snowfall is around 50 inches in the lower Pioneer Valley.

So far in the Springfield area, only a coating of snow has fallen, but expectations are for much more.

"I think it's the season so I think we're expecting snow. I don't mind snow up until March and then I'm ready for spring,” said Joe Casey of West Springfield.

While spring snows have certainly happened, the majority of snow falls during the first few months of the year.

On average, snowfall quickly ramps up with just less than a foot. January is our snowiest month with over a foot of accumulation with a slow drop off in snow into February and March.

While there are those who don't like the snow or winter cold, skiers depend on it.

"Natural stuff is the best, the man made is more of a granular snow and you tend to slide over it whereas regular snow you can actually cut through it," said Christopher Morneau of Fairhaven.

As for snow in the near term, it looks like we'll have to wait a while for some of that.